Sewing machine supporting means



Nov. 15, 1960 R, H L KW 2,960,050

SEWING MACHINE SUPPORTING MEANS Filed April 2, 1958 8 Sheets-Sheet 1 Z 4 V I6 90 -1||||| I 'unl Nov, 15, 1960 R. H. LUKINS 2,960,050

v SEWING MACHINE SUPPORTING MEANS Filed April 2. 1958 I 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 Nov. 15, 1960 R. H. LUKINS SEWING MACHINE SUPPORTING MEANS 8 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed April 2. 1958 m. m Q

Nov. 15, 1960 R. H. LUKINS 2,960,050

sswmc MACHINE SUPPORTING MEANS Filed April 2. 1958 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 co 9 u.

1960 R. H. LUKINS SEWING MACHINE SUPPORTING MEANS 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed April 2. 1958 1960 R. H. LUKINS SEWING MACHINE SUPPORTING MEANS 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed April 2. 1958 Nov. 15, 1960 R. H. LUKINS 2,960,050

SEWING MACHINE SUPPORTING MEANS Filed April 2. 1958 s Sheets-Sheet '7 FIG.9 67 69 Nov. 15, 1960 R. H. LUKINS 2,960,050

SEWING MACHINE SUPPORTING MEANS Filed April 2. 1958 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 FIG. l5

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United States Patent i SEWING MACHINE SUPPORTING MEANS Richard H. Lukins, Glen Ellyn, Ill., assignor to Union Special Machine Company, Chicago, Ill., :1 corporation of Illinois Filed Apr. 2, 1958, Ser. No. 725,869

8 Claims. (Cl. 112-258) This invention relates to supporting means for industrial sewing machines and more particularly for machines of the feed-oif-the-arm type, which are especially useful in the sewing of tubular work. It has been developed in connection with a machine of the foregoing character having a main frame provided with a rotary drive shaft extending longitudinally of an upper, horizontally extending portion thereof. Adjacent one end of said portion is a downwardly extending hollow member carrying at its lower end a horizontally extending work supporting arm which is angled outwardly away from the vertical plane containing the axis of the drive shaft. At the opposite end of the specified upper portion of the frame there is provided a laterally projecting head which extends over the free end of the work supporting arm. In this head there is mounted a reciprocatory needle bar arranged to carry one or more needles from a position above the work supporting arm to and through a throat plate on the latter for cooperation with one or more loopers within the arm to form stitches. The sewing machine, except for its frame structure, may suitably be of the type disclosed in the patent to Smith, No. 2,729,- 176, granted January 3, 1956. Such a machine is particularly useful in the seaming of knit goods.

A primary purpose of the present invention has been to adapt a machine of the character indicated for mounting on a conventional sewing table or stand. Heretofore machines of this character have required mounting on a table of special construction or on a pedestal of special form.

In accordance with the invention a relatively small transmission unit with an enclosed housing has been developed which may be mounted on a conventional sewing table and to which the sewing machine may be secured for convenient use by the operator. The transmission unit enables the location of an electric motor and clutch unit in the usual position .beneath the table top while the sewing machine, with its power receiving pulley I in a predetermined location, may be positioned at the most convenient angle in relation to the table. Also the arrangement is such that the usual treadles providedon the sewing stand or table, for controlling the motor and clutch unit and certain devices on the sewing machine, are conveniently located for operation by the operator who is seated substantially in alinement with the work supporting arm of the machine.

A special feature of the preferred construction is the provision of an adjustable bracket on the housing which is secured to the latter and, in turn, has secured to it a portion of the frame of the sewing machine. This enables ready adjustment of the machine in relation to the housing for insuring proper tensioning of a belt which interconnects the output side of the transmission unit with the power receiving pulley on the machine. It also enables ready removal and replacement of the belt.

1 Another feature of the invention is the provision of a ICE 2 transmission unit, this pulley being connected by a belt with the usual pulley of the motor and clutch unit. The arrangement is such that the combined handwheel and pulley is located for convenient manipulation by the operator seated in alinement with the work supporting arm of the machine.

Other special features of the invention include the provision of a lubricant chamber within the housing of the transmission unit for automatic lubrication of the operative parts of the unit. Also, a special readily removable belt guard is provided over the belt which connects the transmission unit with the sewing machine. This belt guard is so constructed that it not only completely encloses the belt from the outwardly facing side thereof but also protects the operator against accidental engagement of the belt by the fingers in the course of manipulating the work in the region in which it is fed off the work supporting arm.

Still other objects, features and advantages of the invention will appear from the detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the same which will now be given in reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is an elevational view of a sewing table having applied thereto a motor and clutch unit, a transmission unit and a sewing machine carried by the transmission unit;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the assembly shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view through the table structure at a point below the motor and clutch unit, the table top being shown in broken lines to indicate its relation to other parts of the table;

Fig. 4 is an elevational view of the transmission unit and the sewing machine supported thereby as seen from one end of the sewing machine; I

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the parts shown in Fig. 4, a belt guard being shown in section;

Fig. 6 is a plan view of the transmission unit;

Fig. 7 is a horizontal sectional view through the transmission unit, taken along the plane containing the axes of the two shafts thereof;

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 7, showing a modified interior construction of the unit; 7

Fig. 9 is an elevational view of the transmission unit as seen from the input side thereof, with a handwheel removed;

Fig. 10 is an elevational view of a belt guard forming part of the assembly, as seen from the inner side thereof;

Fig. 11 is an axial sectional view through a modified form of belt pulley which may be employed on the output side of the transmission unit;

Fig. 12 is a plan view of a bracket element by which the sewing machine is mounted on the transmission unit.

Fig. 13 is an elevational view of the bracket as seen from the bottom in Fig. 12;

Fig. 14 is an elevational view of the bracket as seen from the right in Fig. 12;

Fig. 15 is a plan view of a second bracket embodied in the construction;

Fig. 16 is an elevational view of the second bracket as seen from the bottom of Fig. 15; and Fig. 17 is an elevational view of the second bracket as seen from the right in Fig. 15.

Turning now to the drawings, the invention contemplates the employment of a sewing table or stand 10 which may be of conventional construction. As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, it comprises four vertically extending legs 11, two at each end of the table'structure. These may be formed of angle bars. Those at each end are inter-connected adjacent their bottoms by a cross member 12 whichmay be of channel form. To enable varying the height of the table, the legs are preferably of telescopic construction, having upper angle members 13 adapted to fit within and slide along the members 11. Bolts 14 passing through suitable openings in the legs 11 and cooperating with vertically elongated openings in the members 13 serve to lock these leg portions in any desired set relation to the members 11, depending upon .the desired height of the table. A cross member 15 is provided at each end of the table to connect the upper ends of the members 13 and lend rigidity to the frame. A substantially rectangular table top 16 is secured in any suitable way to the frame structure described. This table top as shown in Figs. 2 and 3 may suitably be slightly wider adjacent one end than at the other. It will .be understood that the frame structure for supporting the table top will preferably include cross members extending lengthwise of the table to lend appropriate rigidity to the same.

Adjacent 'to the bottom of the table structure a cross bar 17 is provided, this preferably being connected with the members 12 at the two ends of the table by a U-bolt 18 cooperating with elongated openings in the members .12 to permit adjustment of the bar 17 to a certain extent, from front to rear of the table.

Mounted on the rod 17 and shiftable along the same for adjustment to any desired position is a fitting 19. Connected with this fitting is a flat bar 20 arranged to rest upon the floor and provided with an upwardly extending arm 21 at its outer end. A shaft 22 is journaled in an angled extension of the fitting 19 and also in the arm 21. This shaft is disposed at a convenient angle to the rod 17, as best shown in Fig. 3. Rockably mounted on the shaft 22 is a treadle 23, having secured thereto an Unit 26 is supported by the table structure in any suitable way, either from the table top or from the rear frame structure. Another treadle 27 is secured to the shaft 22 so that when depressed it will rock the shaft 22. An arm 28 projecting laterally from shaft 22 is connected with the lower end of a chain 29, the upper end of which is connected with the presser bar lifting mechanism of the sewing machine in the manner to be explained. Preferably the sewing table is provided with an extension 30 which, as shown, may be in the form of a slide adapted to be shifted into a position beneath the table top 16 or drawn outwardly into the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2. This slide has its top surface somewhat below the top surface of the table top so as to provide clearance in relation to the work supporting arm 'of the sewing machine. If desired, the extension 30 may be hinged to the table structure and provided with a hinged leg or strut arranged to retain the extension in active position or to be folded against the latter when it is dropped in front of the table structure. When in its active position the extension 30 assists in supporting portions of the work during the stitching operation.

surrounding wall of the housing. Any suitable form of vibration isolating means may be provided between the unit 31 and the table top. For example, means of the type shown in Thompson Patent No. 2,243,660, granted May 27, 1941, may be used. In one vertical wall of the housing there is provided an opening in which is fitted a ball bearing unit 35. The latter is retained in the opening by a split ring 35a, carried by the outer raceway of the ball bearing unit, and annular plate 3511 which is secured by screws to the outer face of the wall of the housing. Iournaled in the ball bearing unit 35 is a portion of a shaft 36 forming the input shaft of the transmission unit. Another portion .of this shaft is journaled in a ball bearing unit 37 mounted in an opening in an intermediate wall 38 within the housing. At its right end (Fig. 7), the shaft 36 has secured thereto a belt pulley 39. To this is secured a handwheel 40 by means of screws 41. As best shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the handwheel is conveniently located for turning by the operator seated opposite the treadles 23 and 27. A member 42, formed of rubber or the like and which is U-shaped in cross-section, is mounted upon a radially extending flange of the handwheel 40. This member serves to isolate vibrations and prevent their transmission to the handwheel. A ring 41a is interposed between the heads of the screws 41 and the member 42. Upon the opposite end of the shaft 36 there is mounted a bevel gear 43,

secured to the shaft by a set screw 44. Meshing with this bevel gear is a similar gear 45 secured to the inner end of a shaft 46 forming the output shaft of the transmission unit. This shaft is journaled adjacent its inner end in a roller bearing 47 mounted within an opening in an intermediate wall 48 in the housing 33. Adjacent its opposite end shaft 46 is journaled in a roller bearing 49 mounted in one of the outer walls of the housing 33 in the same manner as the roller bearing 35. It is retained against axial movement by a split ring 49a and by an annular plate 49b. Outwardly of the housing the shaft .46 has secured thereto a belt pulley 50.

. To insure adequate lubrication of the gears 43 and 45 a lubricant retaining chamber is formed within the housing around these gears. That chamber, which may be adapted to retain either a semifluid grease or a liquid lubricant, is formed in part by the partition walls 38 and Mounted on and firmly secured to the table top, 16 is a plurality of screws cooperating with threaded openings 34 in bosses or projections extending inwardly from the .48 and in part by the outer walls of the housing. At its top it is closed by the top of the housing and at its bottom it is closed by the a flange 51 projecting inwardly from the forward wall of the housing, between the walls 38 and 48, and having an arcuate inner edge. With this a segment-like plate 52 cooperates to complete the bottom closure. Plate 52 is secured to the flange and to the walls 38 and 48 by screws 53. A sealing member or gasket formed of rubber or the like is provided between the flange 51 and the plate 52.

In Fig. 8 there is shown a modified form of housing which may be used for the transm ssion unit. This housing, designated generally as 33a, has an inwardly extending hollow boss or collar 55 arranged to carry a bushing 56 which in turn carries bearing sleeves 57 in which an input shaft 58 is journaled. This shaft corresponds with shaft 36 of Fig. 7 and carries the pulley 39 and the hand wheel 40 as well as the bevel gear 43. A corresponding bearing arrangement is provided for an output shaft 59 which has secured thereto the bevel gear 45 and pulley 50. Thus a bushing 60 inserted in a hollow boss 61 is provided with hearing sleeves, similar to 57, in which shaft 59 is journaled. In this form of the housing the lubricant chamber is of greater capacity than that disclosed in Fig. 7. Its vertical walls are provided by the surrounding :wall'of the housing 54 and its top is provided by the top of'the housing. Its bottom closure is provided by an inwardly extending flange 62 terminating in a circular innor edge. To this is secured a closure disk 63 by means of screws 64. A gasket is provided between the circular plate 63 and the bottom of the flange 62.

. The transmission unit illustrated in either Fig. 7 or Fig. 8 will be secured to the table top in the manner explained with the axis of the shaft 36, or 58, parallel with the axis of the motor and clutch unit 26. This enables the motor and clutch unit to be readily connected with the transmission unit by a belt 65 which, at its upper end, surrounds the pulley 39. Housing 33 has a belt guard 66 extending outwardly over the top and downwardly along the sides of the pulley 39 to protect the operators finger against engagement with the belt and pulley in the course of turning the handwheel 40. The output shaft (46 or 59) of the transmission unit is preferably disposed at an angle of 45 degrees to the axis of the input shaft. This serves to present the pulley 50 in a most advantageous position for connection with the pulley, to be described, on the sewing machine.

The top of the housing 33 is provided with a flat surface 67 in an area adjacent the pulley 50. Screw threaded openings 68 are provided through the top of the housing in the region of the flat surface 67 for the securement of a bracket to be described. In the midregion of the surface 67 a groove or channel 69 is provided to receive a key 70 which projects upwardly above the surface 67. This key is secured in the groove by a counter sunk screw 71. Toward the front or left side of the surface 67 (Fig. 6), the top of the housing has a depressed portion 72 forming a ledge. See also Fig. 4. Mounted on the fiat surface 67 is a bracket 73 (Fig. 4), which is shown in detail in Figs. 12, 13 and 14. This bracket has a horizontally extending portion 74 provided with a fiat bottom surface 77 arranged to rest upon the surface 67. At its forward end the bracket has an up ward extension 75 and a downward extension 76. The latter is arranged to shift outwardly and inwardly along the ledge 72 of the hous'ng. Extending longitudinally of the horizontal portion 74 of the bracket, adjacent its mid-point, is a keyway 78 adapted to cooperate with the key 70. Elongated openings 79 are provided through the horizontal portion 74 to receive screws 80 which are threaded into the openings 68 in the top of the housing 31. The arrangement is such that the bracket 73 may be adjusted to a certain extent longitud'nally of the key 70 and then rigidly clamped to the housing in set position by the screws 80. The upwardly extending portion 75 of the bracket is provided with openings 81 arranged to receive screws 82 which serve to secure firmly to the bracket the frame of the sewing machine to be described. The forward face of the portions 75 and 76 of the bracket presents a fiat surface 83 which abuts against a flat surface 84 on the rearward side of a main horizontally extending portion 85 of the sewing machine frame. Journaled in this portion of the frame is a main shaft 86 carrying at its outer end, outwardly of the frame, a pulley 87. The latter is connected with the pulley 50 on the transmission unit through a V-belt 88. The adjustable mounting of the bracket 73 on the housing 31 enables proper tensioning of the belt 88 and compensation for wear. -It also enables ready removal and application of the belt. At the end of the horizontal portion 85 of the sewing machine frame, opposite to the end at which the pulley 87 is mounted, the frame is provided with a downwardly extending arm or portion 89 from which projects horizontally a work supporting arm 90. The latter, as shown in Fig. 5, is angled outwardly from the vertical plane containing the axis of the main portion 85 of the frame. A horizontal extension 91 of the frame, projecting from the main portion 85 adjacent the end which carries the pulley 87, extends over the outer end of the arm 90 and is arranged to carry the needle bar, presser bar and other devices forming part of the stitch forming and work feeding mechanism of the sewing machine. For details of construction of these mechanisms, reference may be had to the above mentioned Smith patent.

As best shown in Figs. 1, 4 and 5, the connections from the treadle 27 for lifting the presser bar, to facilitate introduction and removal of work, include an arm 92 to which the upper end of the chain 29 is connected. This arm is pivoted at 92a on the machine frame and, at an intermediate point, is connected by a link 93 with an arm 94 secured to a rock shaft 95. Another arm secured to this rock shaft is connected by a link 96 with an arm 97 secured to a rock shaft 98 journaled in the head 91 of the machine frame. By connections of the character disclosed in said Smith patent, rocking of the shaft 98 serves to lift the presser bar against the action ofthe usual spring which urges it downwardly.

A belt guard 99 (Figs. 4, S and 10) is provided over the belt 88 and the pulleys 50 and 87. This guard has a portion 100 extending over the outer faces of the belt and pulleys and an inwardly extending flange 101 surrounding those parts. A pair of openings 102 is provided through the portion 100 to receive screws 102a arranged to be threaded into openings 103 provided in a bracket 104. The latter has a vertically extending arm in which the threaded openings 103 are provided and has a horizontally extending arm 105 having countersunk openings 106 therein to receive screws 107 (Fig. 4) arranged to cooperate with threaded openings 108 (Fig. 14) provided in the side of the horizontal portion 74 of bracket 73. In this way the belt guard is firmly secured to the bracket 73 and through the latter to the housing 31. On the inner side of the flange 101 is provided a triangular platelike extension 109 (Fig. 10) parallel with the portion 100, which serves as a guard against accidental engagement of the inner side of the belt by the hand as the operator manipulates the work in the stitch forming region. As shown in Fig. 4, this triangular guard 109 is in a region alongside of the work supporting arm where the operator is at times required to grasp the work in assisting its proper advance along the arm.

If desired, the provision for adjustment of the sewing machine on the housing 31 may be eliminated to simplify the construction. In this event, the bracket 73 may be simplified or it may be eliminated altogether, and the housing itself may be provided with an integral portion presenting a flat surface similar to surface 83 of the bracket for cooperation with the surface 84 on the sewing machine frame. When this arrangement is employed, one or both of the pulleys 50 and 87 is preferably made of adjustable construction, to provide a variable pitch, for belt tightening purposes and to enable the belt to be readily applied to and removed from the assembly. For this purpose, the pulley secured to the end of the output shaft 46 of the transmission unit for example, may suitably be of the type disclosed in Fig. 11. It involves a two part pulley having one part 110 secured by a set screw 111 to the shaft 46. Part 110 has a threaded hub on which is mounted a second part 113 of the pulley. By turning the latter its radially extending portion may be shifted toward or away from the radially extending portion of part 110 and thus cause the belt 88 to ride at a different distance from the axis of the shaft 46. A nut 114 serves to lock the part 113 in set position. Whenever it is necessary to remove the belt the part 113 may be readily removed from part 110 In lieu of the adjustable pulley arrangement described, a spring urged arm may be provided with an idler pulley arranged to engage the belt 88 to take up slack and apply a suitable tension to the belt.

While the invention has been described in considerable detail in relation to a preferred embodiment of the same, it will be understood that various changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of the various parts within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. Sewing apparatus comprising a table structure having a table top, a motor and clutch unit mounted on said structure beneath said table top, a power transmission unit mounted on said table top and firmly secured thereto, said transmission unit comprising a housing having portions angled horizontally in relation to each other, an

input shaft, extending horizontally into said housing through a vertical wall thereof, an output shaft extending horizontally outwardly from said housing through another vertical wall thereof, said shafts having their axes disposed at an obtuse angle in relation to each other, meshing gears inter-connecting the inner ends of said shafts, a feed-off-the-arm sewing machine having a frame secured to said housing, said frame having a major portion thereof projecting outwardly from said table top at a substantial acute angle to a portion of the housing of said unit and having a work'supporting arm directed at an acute angle inwardly toward said table top, said sewing machine having a power receiving shaft parallel with the output shaft of said unit carrying a pulley at its end outwardly of said frame, a pulley secured to the outer end of each of said shafts of the transmission unit, a belt connecting the pulley on the input shaft with said motor and clutch unit, and a belt connecting the pulley on the output shaft with said pulley on the sewing machine shaft.

2. Sewing apparatus of the character set forth in claim 1 in which said table structure is provided with treadle means disposed for convenient operation by an operator positioned in line with the work supporting arm of said machine, one of the pulleys carried by said transmission unit having a handwheel connected therewith, said handwheel being so located as to be disposed adjacent an operator positioned in the manner specified.

3. Sewing apparatus of the character set forth in claim 1 in which securing means are provided by which the frame of said sewing machine is mounted on said housing for adjustment in a'direction at a right angle to the 'axis of said output shaft.

4. Sewing apparatus of the character set forth in claim 3 in which said securing means comprises a bracket secured to the top of said housing for-adjustment in a direction at a right angle to the axis of the output shaft, said bracket having a vertical extension along one side of said housing, and said frame of the sewing machine being firmly secured to said vertical extension of the bracket. g

5. Sewing apparatus of the character set forth in claim 1 which comprises a belt guard mounted on said housing and arranged to enclose completely the outer faces of the belt which connects the pulley on said output shaft with the pulley on the sewing machine shaft.

6. Sewing apparatus of the character set forth in claim 5 in which said belt guard is provided with a finger guard on its inner side arranged to prevent engagement of the inner edge of the belt by the fingers of an operator in the manipulation of the work in a region between said housing and the frame of the sewing machine.

7. Sewing apparatus of the character set forth in claim 4 which comprises a belt guard mounted on said bracket and arranged to enclose completely the outer faces of the belt which connects the pulley on said output shaft with the pulley on said sewing machine shaft.

8. Sewing apparatus of the character set forth in claim 1 in which the frame of said sewing machine has a main horizontally extending portion which carries said power receiving shaft and a downwardly extending portion at one end of said main portion, said work supporting arm extending horizontally from the lower end of said downwardly extending portion and being angled outwardly from a vertical plane passing through the axis of said power receiving shaft.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,041,653 Merritt Oct. 15,1912 2,465,309 Happe Mar. 22, 1949 2,511,047 Christensen June 13, 1950 2,534,534 Senter Dec. 19, 1950 2,641,139 Beisner .i June 9, 1953 

